Garden City, N.Y. - The No. 12 and top-seeded Adelphi University softball team is in a familiar position once again, following a 10-1 loss to No. 2 seed Wilmington University Thursday in Game 1 of a best-of-three series to determine this year's NCAA Division II East Region Champion.

This time last year, the Wildcats (43-13) took the opener in shutout fashion, 1-0, behind a complete-game effort from Wilmington starter Kylee Gunkel.

And like the 2022 season, the Panthers (46-7) will need two wins Friday to keep their hopes of a return appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championship alive.

The loss snapped a program-record 25-game winning streak by the 'Cats. It was their worst margin of defeat at home since 2016.

Adelphi starter Lindsey Hibbs was greeted to an early exit, after Wilmington plated five runs against the NE10 Pitcher of the Year. A couple of well-struck hits that sailed over the reach of Jordyn Pasqueralli's glove, coupled with an Angela Lignelli passed ball and a Kendall Winn throwing error, helped the Wildcats to a quick 5-0 advantage.

Gunkel, who commanded the circle in Game 1 last season, made the start and had a similar performance, striking out four across seven innings with seven hits allowed.

While Hibbs was chased after two innings of work, Tierney Fitzgerald came on in relief and surrendered three earned runs in five innings with three strikeouts.

The action re-commences from Janet L. Ficke Field tomorrow (May 18) at 12 noon, with Wilmington slated as the home team on the scoreboard for Game 2.